Wayne Bennett has a proven track record when it comes to making big decisions.

Moving from Brisbane to Canberra back in 1987 to take on a joint coaching position with Don Furner snr gave his coaching talents wider acclaim. Heading back to Brisbane in 1988 to help set up the powerful Brisbane Broncos franchise was a career-maker. No matter what he achieves outside of Brisbane he will always be remembered as the Broncos coach.

The selection and recruitment of hopefuls and developing them into international-class footballers shows a man with an acute eye for talent and the perseverance to help young men achieve their ambitions. Over the years he has shown a preparedness to make a call on whether to retain or release an ageing star or move a player on to the English Super League before bringing him back to the NRL. His greatest achievements with some players - the advice and mentoring he gave them - might well have gone unnoticed. Sometimes this is the most rewarding thing about being a coach. You help make a difference to people's lives.

His timing in and out of Origin football and his coaching of the Queensland teams has been impeccable. He left the Broncos at the right time. He chose the right club to join when he selected St George Illawarra as his next challenge.

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I believe his decision to leave the Dragons is also the decision of a wise and experienced man.

However, I get the distinct feeling that choosing his next team is causing this Master Mentor significant consternation. Not that I suspect he's made a wrong decision; nor do I believe he can make a wrong decision whichever way he goes from here. The opportunities available to him look to be gilt-edged investments for his time and talents.

It's just I've never really seen him this undecided about making a call. From what I hear he has been genuinely wavering in his thought processes. It's obviously a tough one for him. Should he coach the Rabbitohs or the Knights?

Firstly, let's deal with his decision to leave the Dragons. I think it's a good move.

Bennett came south on a mission. After 21 years at the Broncos he decided he and they needed a change. He chose a strong brand in the Dragons at a time when they had been under-achieving. He came, he saw, he conquered.

Speaking to him over lunch a fortnight before last year's grand final I asked him how long he would keep coaching. His reply was interesting. To paraphrase him: "The thing that has made the Dragons so enjoyable has been the fact we are a winning team. The players are great and they are in the right stages of their careers to have this kind of impact. The winning makes the job so much easier."

He then continued with the admission: "I don't know how I would go coaching a struggling team that wasn't winning. I don't know if I could start again from scratch and go through tough years at the bottom of the ladder trying to turn things around."

I knew exactly what he was saying.

For this reason I knew he probably wouldn't be interested in being the foundation coach for, say, a second Brisbane franchise in years to come. He built one club from scratch. I don't think he will try to build another. For similar reasons, I think the Dragons face some serious challenges in the coming years as an ageing player roster and the ill-effects of a salary cap that punishes success really start to take a hold. He has won them a premiership. He doesn't want to be around for the downside.

I really thought he would go back to Brisbane. I think most assumed this was on the cards. But now that he has announced he won't be returning , I can see the sense in this decision. I think the Broncos would have been too easy. Too comfortable. Too familiar. He knows he still needs a challenge. A new club and the chance to become the first coach to win a premiership at three clubs will ensure his competitive juices flow. Yep, smart decision to knock back the Broncos.

So back to the Rabbits or the Knights. Both great rugby league clubs. I think the tradition and history of the Rabbits interests Bennett; albeit their greatest days came long before any of their current players were even born. To win a premiership with South Sydney would truly be a great accomplishment. I admire what Russell Crowe has done for the image and stability of this club. I think Crowe needs a man like Bennett if he hopes to realise his dreams.

Souths have a roster ready to go; although a few tweaks here and there wouldn't go astray. Their football and their personality as a team needs an overhaul. They are under-achieving. Bennett can change that.

Newcastle are a wonderful opportunity, though I think their current coach is doing a great job. Like the Broncos, if they miss out on Bennett's signature they should stick with the man they have. But I guess any club would move heaven and earth to have Bennett on the books.

In all the years I've been involved in rugby league I can honestly say I've never met a person from Newcastle I didn't like. I think the vast junior nursery and local content would interest Bennett. A chance to establish something really special that sustains the club well into the future is something Bennett could capitalise upon. I also think Bennett warms to self-achievers such as new boss Nathan Tinkler. He has always gravitated to people like Paul ''Porky'' Morgan, John Singleton and the late Ken Talbot, to name a few. He admires their success and the fact these men use their good fortune to help others.

With Tinkler's passion and vision for Newcastle, as a football club and as a city, Bennett will find someone to whom he can really relate. It looks like a winning partnership.

I think the reports of Bennett being offered $2 million a season by Tinkler are way off the mark and could even stand in the way of Newcastle securing his signature. Bennett is a funny bloke - if he thought for a moment people believed he was getting paid that much, it would be enough to make him knock back the Knights just to prove it's not all about the money.

Anyway, it will be interesting to see which way he jumps. I believe a decision is imminent. He has stewed over this long enough.

Souths or Newcastle winning a premiership in the next three years would be a further boost to our game. They are strong brands and recognised the world over. Having Bennett as the coach would bring them a step closer to this dream.

5 comments so far

Phil Gould said: "I think the reports of Bennett being offered $2 million a season by Tinkler are way off the mark"

On the same day in the same paper, Danny Weidler said: "It has been widely reported that Bennett has been offered up to $2 million a season with the Knights, however, it is my understanding he could earn double that money if he was to get the Knights a premiership in his first season as coach. Bennett has been offered $1.2 million as a sign-on fee and then the bonuses kick in - $1 million to make the finals and $500,000 for each finals win and then a further $1million if he delivers the premiership trophy to the Knights in 2012."

So, Phil says nowhere near $2M and Danny says maybe up to $4M. Since Wayne isn't telling, it's open to speculation, so I say it proably is about $2M. Wayne might deny it because he doesn't like others knowing his business.

Wayne said "it's not JUST about the money", but what he didn't say was that money DOES play a large part in his decision.Wayne only has a few years left before retirement and he'll want to finsh with a big pay day. Even more than winning another comp, although that would be nice.

Commenter

Reader

Location

Sydney

Date and time

April 10, 2011, 10:29AM

If i was bennett i wouldnt even consider going to souths. The jersey is a curse and south will never win a premiership. A clean out of the majority of polynesian players is needed urgently to rebuld that team.

You could put the WHOLE QLD ORIGIN TEAM in a south jersey and they wouldnt win anything....

CURSE!!!

Commenter

Jason

Location

Sydney

Date and time

April 11, 2011, 8:57AM

@ Jason - what you say about polynesians I would hazard a guess to say as unpopular as that statement may be, it wouldn't be far off the mark. A reliance on the biggest teenagers on the field is what stops souths and the warriors gaining any consistency, despite their obvious talent that the display from time to time. Footy is a bit of brains too, not just brawn.

Back on topic - Souths would be more of a challenge than the Knights. After all, 2001 isn't as long as... When did souths win again? Good luck Wayne wherever you go, done good for the mighty Dragons.

Commenter

cockroach

Location

sydney

Date and time

April 11, 2011, 8:56PM

Phil, Would you be interested in coaching souths?

Commenter

Beans

Location

Sth Sydney

Date and time

April 12, 2011, 2:43PM

Whats this about polynesians , the team is predominantly an Aboriginal team and is identified as such by the media and club . Indigenous players are great attacking players but poor defenders and this is shown by the for and against stats year after year. Bennett is not stupid ,he will only ever take over a team of players who are willing to put in that extra effort when under the pump.

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